All I try to say is that both fiction shows and non fiction show can be a source of information. That you can learn both basic stuff but if you just a bit more bright even some more complex thing. Because it would be unlikely that the scene settings in multiple shows would be showing a totally wrong pictures of the USA because the audience wouldn't accepet it. That yes people want to see people have more exciting life and things more dramatic then their own lifes but at the same time they like to recognize themself with the people in the show and the surroundings. So therefor if you as an non american is not intersting in news that much and that is going on internationaly it can give you basic information about the USA while an american that also lack interest and at the same time only watch american movies just got few stereotyped characters of foreigners in American movies and shows to go on. While non american people more intresting in internation news and other countries can have the american shows (that also are non fictional like 60 minutes) as a complement. But as I said knowing is not the same as knowing everything.
What you're saying is like saying that the Americans know british because we've seen monty python, benny hill, sherlock holms mysteries, and occasionally watch BBC reporters.
I have been to Britain and I would not so defame that great people by implying that I could gain any deep insight into their culture through their television.
I watch british television. About the most that's told me is what they find funny.
First of all of course I could learn more about America. But still you are more or less a unified nation with alot of minority country that makes you diversed. While Europe consist of many nations that inside them have alot of diversity. So if you compare Sweden and USA yes you got alot more diversity but if you compare Europe and USA we got more diversity. Also bet as an American you can feel at home in most states yes you can go to a minority area and then feel the diffrence but in most case the diffrence is way smaller then for example me going to Rumania. I don't understand the people, I probably wouldn't know any of the food, I would be shocked with the poverty level, I wouldn't understand to behave etc...
This is where you're dead wrong. The united states while being one country is not uniform. Again there is more diversity between the people of New York and Alaska then two countries in europe.
I think you're fixating too much on artificial distinctions that ultimately aren't meaningful. Yes you have many little countries with different languages. But having a different language does not make your culture fundamentally different. What's more having a different government does not mean that those two governments are not very much alike. Even beyond that, like most Europeans I think you underestimate the degree of freedom US states have from the federal government. The federal government has no say in who runs states. The various state officials can make a regular point of openly insulting the federal government or other states with no official repercussions. We have a great degree of separation of powers. In some states for example Gay marriage is allowed and in others it is not. That is diversity that you don't really see in europe.
USA culture was much founded on English culture while the Mexican was founded on the Spanish culture. Therefor they are both similare with eachother and european cultures. But yes their are also huge diffrences because the Spanish and Mexican culture have been seperated from eachother just as American an English cultures. Also you have consider the native influence and the lower level of development. But those diffrence seems smal compared to the diffrence between European and Thai cultures. They don't have any religion similarities, no common cultural or historical background and the development level is even lower.
We are more based upon ideas that were popular at the time then we are based upon english culture. The only truely english thing that the US has besides the language is English common law. That is we kept much of the english legal system.
Also your comment about europe and thai culture is my point. European culture is not that diverse when compared with the world. Thus claiming you know more about hte world because you know more about europe is false.
that is my point.
Have you had a japanese neighbor for one year? Have you dated japanes people(well that didn't go very well but still)? Have you written paper about Japan in School. Have you heard storys from friends visting them. Have you read Shogun and other books? Sorry could resit making it into a p***ing contest
I have a korean neighbor, have dated a korean girl, have been to japan, have read shogun and other books about japan...
I think I can probably pee as far as you... and I can probably write my name in the snow while doing it. :mrgreen:
Well then it comes to Cambodia then it could be problematic becuase people was stupid. But people objecting to intervening in Rwanda would have looked really stupid. But yes UN could do more (even if they do more then you can imagen). The problem and good thing is that UN is not an indipendent unity but consist of their members and their wishes. But let's get back to the point that is that it's not good to potray USA as the heroic country that is always their leading the way and doing the right thing. Because it's not simple true just as European countries and the rest of the countries in the world USA do both to little and the wrong things (of course you can discuse who has the most wrong) for being potrayed as an hero (that almost the poster I responed did).
The UN refused to call it genocide for a long time... and by the time it did it was pretty much too late... and still no one did anything.
You can't both hold the US responsible for world events and then say that the US has no business running world events. The two statements are contradictory. Either the US is responsible or it isn't.
Personally, I would rather that it wasn't... but at the same time no one else will step up so we feel the need to do so. It's like we're all standing in a room and we hear screaming outside begging for help and no one does anything... Half the time we get bitched at it's because the US said "fine, I'll go... AGAIN"... and everyone else just stays in the room and then complains about how we could have done it better.
Well, I'd like to see anyone else do a better job. :roll:
Despite what many people might think, we americans really do care and really do try. We're not perfect and we make mistakes but we're only human beings trying here. Please don't fault us both for being brave enough to try and then faulting us for not being perfect golden gods. We can only do so much... if you want better, then help out. you don't even need to help us out. Do something else some where else. And if you're just hanging out in your blue hats that isn't really helpful in many situations. Sometimes you need to get your hands dirty.
